Practice Makes Perfect: Edgar Cabrera's 2004 Nissan 350Z

Photography by Aaron Warburton II


Edgar Cabrera has regarded Nissan’s 350Z as his dream car since he was younger, so it’s only fitting that he was able to build one after all that time dreaming. He knew it was the right platform for him after taking note of the wide variety of aftermarket support. Seeing that there were many possible looks to go with on the platform, he started building his vision.

His high school auto body class gave him the skills he needed to work with, which he practiced on his 1992 Infiniti G20 that he had while attending class. While that car remains his daily driver, the 350Z is a serious project. As daunting as a project of this magnitude may look, Cabrera is happy to tell us that he faced no particularly harsh challenges in the build process. “I always thought a step ahead so once I got to [a problem], I had a solution”, he says.

Styling took inspiration from the Rocket Bunny kit’s debut, with a few unique tweaks of his own to make it his. Cabrera hopes to keep this build functional amidst all its show-worthy goodies. In addition to taking home trophies at shows, he still wants to be able to take it to the track and enjoy it the way it was meant to be enjoyed. That’s a sentiment that resonates with all of us.

He leaves our audience with some advice for building: “Have love and be patient with the build. The more patient [you are], the better the build will come out”. Wise words.

Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 03

With 58% of the Popular Vote, the winner of the PASMAG Tuner Battlegrounds #TBGLIVE award category at StanceWars: Seattle in Bellevue, WA on July 9, 2016 was Edgar Cabrera with a 2004 Nissan 350Z!

ESSENTIALS

VEHICLE: 2004 Nissan 350Z
OWNER: Edgar Cabrera
LOCATION: Pasco, Washington, USA
ENGINE: Nissan VQ35DE 3.5L V6
HORSEPOWER: 330 whp
TORQUE: 350 lb-ft

SOCIAL
Facebook: Edgar Cabrera
Instagram: @edgarz33

Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 31

ENGINE 

  • Zex Injected wet kit nitrous system
  • Jim Wolf Pop Charger air filter
  • Z1 Motorsport “Z Tube” air intake
  • Skunk2 intake plenum spacer
  • NGK Iridium IX spark plugs
  • ZSPEC stainless steel dress-up bolts

Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 08

EXHAUST 

  • Magnaflow exhaust
  • Megan Racing (3-1 header, up-pipe, down-pipe)
  • Silverline angle-cut blast pipes
  • Agency Power stainless steel race test pipes

DRIVETRAIN

  • Competition Clutch (Stage 3 6-puck clutch, 25-lb flywheels)

Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 21
Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 17Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 18

WHEELS/TIRES/BRAKES

  • VIP Modular VX110 wheels – 18x10.5 -16 (f), 18x12 -8 (r)
  • Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport tires – 255/35/18 (f), 295/35/18 (r)
  • Carbotech XP10 brake pads

Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 04

CHASSIS/SUSPENSION 

  • Ksport (Struts w/ air bags, airbag system)
  • Polyurethane bushings
  • Megan Racing front upper control arms
  • Enjuku (rear toe arms, camber arms)

Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 16
Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 01Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 10
Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 20Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 24
Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 23Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 29
Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 25Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 27

EXTERIOR 

  • Rocket Bunny Replica (Front bumper, fenders, front splitter)
  • Crown Carbon Crafting rear over-fenders
  • Nismo side skirts
  • Carbon fiber rear visor
  • INGS LX Sport rear half-spoiler
  • Infiniti G35 rear mud guards
  • Battle Aero wing brackets
  • NRG carbon fiber wing
  • Top Secret (Carbon fiber rear diffuser, rear bumper diffuser)
  • Rear blinking brake lights

Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 05Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 06

INTERIOR 

  • Nismo carbon fiber shift knob
  • Nardi Classic wood steering wheel
  • Nismo floor mats

Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 07

AUDIO/MULTIMEDIA 

  • Sony XAV-64BT 6.1-inch touchscreen head unit
  • Rockford Fosgate (Prime R500x1d amp, 10-inch subwoofers (2))
  • Custom sub box under strut tower
  • Optima Red Top battery

Edgar Cabrera 2004 Nissan 350Z TBGLIVE PASMAG 28

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